Jim Hill
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When fall comes to New England, most people usually grab a rake and try to arrange all of those falling leaves into one neat little pile. Me? The only time I ever grab a rake is when I'm trying to clean off the top of my desk.

Which is what I'm doing this morning, folks. Just trying to clear some work space so that I can finally get around to finishing up that Disney / Muppet series. But I keep getting distracted by all these cool little Disney-related factoids that I keep stumbling across as I try to clean off my desk.

Take -- for example -- this notice that I just received about the five Broadway shows that closed over the weekend. Among those unfortunate entertainments was "Blast!," the Tony Award winner that wasn't supposed to shutter 'til January 6th, 2002. However, due to the show's severe box office drop in the wake of the World Trade Center attacks, "Blast!" producers decided to pull the plug on the New York version of the show this past Sunday afternoon.

So what does any of this have to do with the Mouse? Well, Walt Disney World visitors will undoubtedly be familiar with "Blast!," given that a half hour long version of the Broadway show -- "The Power of Blast!" -- was presented this past summer at Epcot's America Gardens Theatre. Though not quite as popular as "The Best of Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance" shows that was presented in this very same theater during the summers of 1999 & 2000, "The Power of Blast!" still had its fans among Disney brass.

Which is why "Blast!" 's blaring trumpets and swirling flags will soon supposedly be heading west. According to the September 10th edition of "Daily Variety," the Broadway version of the show will "be revamped and reopen at Disneyland in January."

Which -- I'll grant you -- isn't exactly pulse pounding news for Disneyland Resort fans. Until you realize that this musical extravaganza has to be presented inside of a Broadway-style theater. Then the *REAL* news is revealed: "Blast!" coming to Disneyland in January means that DCA's much maligned "Steps in Time" show will be supposedly closing sometime after New Years.

I know, I know. Few of you will mourn the loss of this misbegotten musical revue, which tried to present classic Disney tunes in a contemporary fashion. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were thrown at "Steps in Time" back in January, after DCA preview audiences were reportedly left cold by the original version of the show. The revamped revue -- which tried mightily to shoehorn a storyline that featured two squabbling siblings as well as a mini-skirted fairy godmother into the mix -- didn't fare much better.

So now "Steps in Time" will soon be stepping aside. Clearing out of the Hyperion Theater in early 2002 to make room for Broadway's "Blast!" Here's hoping that a stripped down version of this musical extravaganza will help lure additional visitors out to Anaheim to take a peek at Disney's California Adventure.

Speaking of things that are closing ("Steps in Time." *NOT* DCA) ... This past weekend, I was shocked to learn that -- as part of the down-sizing of the entire Disney Store retail chain -- 7 out of the 11 Disney Galleries that were open nationwide have been closed. As of the moment, only the Freehold, NJ store, the Troy, MI store , the Natick, MA store as well as NYC's 5th Avenue Flagship store remain open.

And -- to be honest -- Disney's Flagship store (located at the corner of 5th & 55th) may also be sinking soon. Earlier this month, word leaked out that the Mouse is supposedly showing this primo retail space to other possible renters, with the hope of that one of them might be willing to take the high priced venue off of Disney's hands. Given its fashionable location (711 5th Avenue), I'm sure that Mickey will eventually be able to find some retailer willing to take on this tony location. But still, it will be sad to think that this elegant establishment -- which the Imagineers filled to the rafters with witty Disney references during the building's multi-million dollar makeover back in 1996 -- will soon swept clean of mice.

But I guess we have to face facts now, folks. It's a different world. The Walt Disney Company's obviously having some really severe financial troubles right about now. Which is why the Mouse can't afford to hang onto these high profile locations -- like the chain's 5th Avenue Flagship store -- that don't rack up big-time sales. That's why the Disney Store in Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace is also supposedly on the chopping block.

The way I hear it, Mickey is now looking for its smaller, not-so-flashy mall-based locations to carry the retail chain. Though -- sometime later this year -- the Mouse's Consumer Products Division is also allegedly looking into expanding the Disney Store brand by rolling out two new test stores: The Disney Kids store and the Disney Home store.

The Disney Kids store -- as one might imagine -- will supposedly be filled with child related merchandise: clothing, bedding, etc. I'm told that one end of the shop will be set up as if it's an idealized child's bedroom. Only all the blankets, sheets, pillows, etc. on display will be themed around an upcoming Disney film release (EX: "Monsters, Inc.") or a particular product line that the Mouse is pushing (I.E. Disney Princesses).

The Disney Home store will -- just like the name suggests -- feature a wide selection of household products that have a Disney theme. So, if you're in need of a Mickey Mouse towel or a Donald Duck teapot, this is the spot at the mall where you'd go to chase down that particular item.

Will either of these two new concepts be enough to help turn around Disney Consumer Product's sagging sales? To be honest, I'm not sure that the Disney Kids or Disney Home store will have a broad enough appeal to make it in today's marketplace.